Friday Tasting: Blindfold, Aviron, and Mollydooker – 9/8/17

Join us Friday, September 8th, 5-8pm, for a FREE wine tasting!

This week we’re paying a visit to Frog’s Leap Winery in Rutherford! Frog’s Leap has been making wine since 1981, using organic fruit since the 1990s, and has been solar-powered since 2004.

Blindfold 2014 White Blend from Prisoner Wine Co.: From the makers of the Prisoner Red Blend, comes this bold and elegant white wine made mostly of Chardonnay and a blend of aromatic varietals (Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Marsanne). The wine is complex with inviting aromas of honeysuckle, grilled white peach and apricot. A luscious entry of toasted hazelnut and mandarin are balanced by bright acidity and minerality. The finish is rich and creamy with flavors of lemon zest and caramelized sugar. Pair this wine with savory dishes such as pumpkin risotto or fire-roasted vegetables with Béarnaise sauce.

Stéphane Aviron 2014 Morgon Côte de Py, Beaujolais: Stéphane Aviron is at the forefront of the almost radical modern movement in the Beaujolais region. While historically considered the “poor man’s Burgundy,” Aviron is creating expressive and age-worthy Cru Beaujolais (Gamay) sourced from old parcels of vines, most 40-years-old and older, and using biodynamic practices. His 2014 Morgon Côte de Py originates from south-facing sandy slopes of an inactive volcano. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, then the wine is aged for only one month in new and used French oak barrels. Structured, earthy, and harmonious, this wine offers aromas of ripe strawberry and cherry, balanced by tannic structure and juicy acidity. Pair with grilled salmon and asparagus.

Mollydooker “the Boxer” 2016 Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia: Mollydooker (an Aussie term for left-handed) winery is located in McLaren Vale, about a 30-minute drive from Adelaide, in South Australia. Sarah and Sparky Marquis have 114 acres under vine, consisting of vineyards in the area. Their 2016 “The Boxer” Shiraz is vibrant and complex, packed with layers of aromas and flavors including chocolate, plum, and licorice, with bright cherry on the mid-palate. Pair with grilled rib-eye or smoked red meats.